System and method for providing and tracking the provision of audio and visual presentations via a computer network

ABSTRACT

A method for tracking digital media presentations: providing a corresponding web page for each digital media presentation to be delivered; providing identifier data to the user&#39;s computer; providing a timer applet to the user&#39;s computer; and, storing data indicative of received identifier data; wherein each provided webpage causes corresponding digital media presentation data to be streamed from a second computer system distinct from a first computer system directly to the user&#39;s computer independent of the first computer system; and stored data is indicative of an amount of time the digital media presentation data is streamed from the second computer system to the user&#39;s computer.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.61/090,673 entitled: CONTENT, TRAFFIC AND ADVERTISING ENGINE, SYSTEM ANDMETHOD; Ser. No. 61/090,680 entitled: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AGGREGATINGAND PROVIDING AUDIO AND VISUAL PRESENTATIONS VIA A COMPUTER NETWORK;Ser. No. 61/090,678 entitled: CONTENT, TRAFFIC AND ADVERTISING ENGINE,SYSTEM AND METHOD; Ser. No. 61/090,688 entitled: SYSTEM AND METHOD OFVALIDATING CONTENT, TRAFFIC AND ADVERTISING IN A COMPUTING APPLICATIONAND ENGINE; Ser. No. 61/090,681 entitled: DYNAMIC READ THROUGH DATACOLLECTION AND AD DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SAME; Ser. No. 61/090684entitled: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRAFFIC IN A CONTENT AND ADVERTISINGENGINE; and Ser. No. 61/090,672 entitled: System and Method forProviding and Tracking the Provision of Audio and Visual Presentationsvia a Computer Network, all having common inventor Tod C. Turner; andeach of which is incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in itsrespective entirety herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the provision of information,and more particularly to the provision of informational, entertainment,educational, business and other audio and/or audio/visual presentationsvia a computer network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Internet is a global network connecting millions of computers andlinking users in more than 100 countries into exchanges of data, newsand opinions. Unlike online services, which are centrally controlled,the Internet is decentralized. Each Internet enabled computer isindependent, such that its user can choose which Internet services touse and which local services to make available to the global Internetcommunity.

There are many types of content available via the Internet, includingtextual content, graphical content, audio content and video content. Theamount of content available via the Internet is virtually unlimited.Accordingly, it can prove difficult for a user of an Internet enabledcomputer to identify and locate content of a particular type andrelating to a particular subject.

A popular solution to finding desired content is to use a publiclyavailable search engine. A search engine searches documents forspecified keywords and returns a list of documents where the keywordswere found. Typically, a search engine utilizes a webcrawler to providedocuments. An indexer then typically reads the webcrawler provideddocuments and creates an index based on the words contained in eachdocument. Each search engine typically uses its own methodology tocreate indices such that, ideally, only meaningful results are returnedfor each query. This is not always true though due to the complex natureand nuances of human language and efforts by document authors orproviders to fool or trick the indexer into ranking its documents abovethose of others. Examples of conventional search engines include thosemade available via www.yahoo.com, www.google.com and www.search.com, allby way of non-limiting example only.

Accordingly, there is a need for a system and method of using theInternet as a global network to unite people with common interests. Sucha system and method may be used as productivity tools for business, andto educate and entertain consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A method for tracking digital media presentations delivered from a firstcomputer system to a user's computer via a network including: providinga corresponding web page to the user's computer for each digital mediapresentation to be delivered using the first computer system; providinga identifier data to the user's computer using the first computersystem; providing an applet to the user's computer for each digitalmedia presentation to be delivered using the first computer system,wherein the applet is operative by the user's computer as a timer;receiving at least a portion of the identifier data from the user'scomputer responsively to the timer applet each time a predeterminedtemporal period elapses using the first computer system; and, storingdata indicative of the received at least portion of the identifier datausing the first computer system; wherein each provided webpage causescorresponding digital media presentation data to be streamed from asecond computer system distinct from the first computer system directlyto the users computer independent of the first computer system; andwherein the stored data is indicative of an amount of time the digitalmedia presentation data is streamed from the second computer system tothe user's computer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Understanding of the present invention will be facilitated byconsideration of the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system of networked computers;

FIG. 2 illustrates an electronic document according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates an electronic document according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a process according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a process according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of a process according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a system of networked computers inconjunction with telecommunications devices according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of a process according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates an electronic document according to an embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow diagram of a process according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions of embodimentsof the present invention have been simplified to illustrate elementsthat are relevant for a clear understanding of the present invention,while eliminating, for the purpose of clarity, many other elements foundin typical website and audio/visual content delivery systems andmethods. Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that otherelements and/or steps are desirable and/or required in implementing thepresent invention. However, because such elements and steps are wellknown in the art, and because they do not facilitate a betterunderstanding of the present invention, a discussion of such elementsand steps is not provided herein.

For non-limiting purposes of explanation only, “computer,” as referredto herein, refers to a general purpose computing device that includes aprocessor. “Processor,” as used herein, refers generally to a deviceincluding a Central Processing Unit (CPU), such as a microprocessor. ACPU generally includes an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), which performsarithmetic and logical operations, and a control unit, which extractsinstructions (e.g., code) from memory and decodes and executes them,calling on the ALU when necessary. “Memory,” as used herein, refers toone or more devices capable of storing data, such as in the form ofchips, or other medium like magnetic or optical discs. Memory may takethe form of one or more random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory(ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM), or electrically erasable programmableread-only memory (EEPROM) chips, by way of further non-limiting exampleonly. Memory may be internal or external to an integrated unit includingthe processor. Memory may be internal or external to the computer Suchmemory may store a computer program, e.g., code or a sequence ofinstructions being operable by the processor. Such a computer mayinclude one or more data inputs. Such a computer may include one or moredata outputs. The code stored in memory may cause the processor, whenexecuted by the processor, to set an output to a value responsively to asensed input.

One type of computer executable code typically stored in memory so as tobe executable by an Internet enabled computer is a browser application.For non-limiting purposes of explanation only, “browser application” or“browser,” as used herein, generally refers to computer executable codeused to locate and display web pages. Commercially available browsersare Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Apple Safari,Google Chrome and Firefox, which all support text, graphics andmultimedia information, including sound and video (sometimes throughbrowser plug-in applications). “Plug-in,” as used herein, generallyrefers to computer executable code that adds a specific feature orservice to a larger system, in the case of a browser plug-in, thebrowser application.

The terms “computer,” “computer device and/or “computer system” as usedherein may generally take the form of single computing devices orcollections of computing devices having a common operator or undercommon control.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, content maybe aggregated for presentation to users. According to certainembodiments of the present invention, audio content may be aggregatedfor presentation to users. According to certain embodiments of thepresent invention, video content may be aggregated for presentation tousers. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, audioand video content may be aggregated for presentation to users.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a system ofnetworked computers 10. The illustrated system 10 includes a pluralityof user computers 20, a plurality of network server computers 30 and anetwork 40 interconnecting computers 20, 30 together.

Illustrated system 10 includes personal computing devices 22 and apersonal digital assistant computer/web-enabled cell phone computer 24by way of non-limiting example only. Communication links 26communicatively couple devices 20 with network 40. Links 26 may take theform of wired and/or wireless communications links, including fiberoptic, POTS, DSL, cable and/or multiple access or GSM based wirelesstelephony or data communications systems, for example. Network 40 mayinclude portions of proprietary and service provider networks, as wellas the Internet, for example. Illustrated system 10 includes a databaseserver 32, a content or web server 34 and a file server 36, all by wayof non-limiting example only. Communication links 26 communicativelycouple devices 30 with network 40 as well. “Server”, as used herein,generally refers to a computing device communicatively coupled to anetwork and that manages network resources. A server may refer to adiscrete computing device, or may refer to an application that ismanaging resources rather than the entire computing device.

Referring now also to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a web page 200according to an embodiment of the present invention. Web page 200 may beprovided to computers 20 by computers 30 via network 40. Illustrated webpage 200 aggregates audio and/or video content for presentation to usersof computers 20.

Referring still to FIG. 2, the particularly illustrated web page 200includes a category selector 205, a ranking selector 210, a new contentindicator 215, a content type indicator 220, a page selector 225,particular content graphics 230, particular content type indicators 235and particular content information 240 organized under a browser tab245. Web page 200 may take other forms and/or present different contentas is conventionally achieved in the pertinent arts.

Particular content graphics 230, particular content type indicators 235and particular content information 240 are organized to indicateindividual presentations. In the illustrated embodiment, presentations265, 270, 275, are respectively shown. A user may select such apresentation for display by selecting an individual presentation forstreaming or downloading, such as by clicking on an indicator 235, 240or 245. For non-limiting purposes of explanation, “streaming,” as usedherein, generally refers to a technique for transferring data such thatit can be processed as a substantially steady or continuous stream and auser's browser or plug-in can start presenting the data before theentire file has been transmitted. For non-limiting purposes ofexplanation, “downloading,” as used herein, generally refers to atechnique for transmitting data (e.g., an entire data file) betweencomputers, such as between file server 36 (FIG. 1) and a computingdevice 22 (FIG. 1). In certain embodiments of the present invention, acommercially available content (e.g., audio and/or video podcast)delivery application, such as the Flash product available from AdobeSystems Inc., may be used to provide selected presentations to users'computers 20 (FIG. 1).

Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 2, a user of a device 20 may request page200 from content server 34 using a browser application in a conventionalmanner. Server 34 may provide page 200 to the requesting computer 20 ina conventional manner, optionally using database server 32 to populatepage 200, for example.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, when a user selects acategory in selector 205, content server 34 may request database server32 identify which presentations should be used to populate page 200according to the selected category. Server 34 may then provide such apopulated page 200 to the requesting user computer 20. Examples ofcategories that may be included and selected using selector 205 includeart, autos and vehicles, bloggers and people, celebrity gossip, comedy,education, gadgets, health, how to and DIY, legal, music, news, and petsand animals, for example. By selecting one of these categories, a usermay receive pages 200 populated with content according to the selectedcategory.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, when a user selects aranking in indicator 210, content server 34 may request database server32 identify which presentations should be used to populate page 200according to the selected ranking. Server 34 may then provide such apopulated page 200 to the requesting user computer 20. Examples ofrankings that may be included and selected using indicator 210 includemost recent presentations and most popular presentations, for example.By selecting one of these rankings, a user may receive pages 200populated with content according to the selected ranking.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, a user may select apopulated presentation (e.g., 265, 270 or 275, FIG. 2). In responsethereto, server 34 may request file server 36 either stream or downloadthe selected presentation to the requesting user's computer 20, such asvia a web page 200 in a conventional manner.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a view of web page 200 when tab250 is selected. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, web page 200includes a text box 255 and search button 260 under tab 250. In certainembodiments of the present invention, when tab 250 is selected, text box255 and search button 260 may be presented on the user's computer 20 byserver 34. A user may enter a search term into window 255 in aconventional manner. A user may then activate search button 260 in aconventional manner. Responsively thereto, content server 34 may requestdatabase server 32 identify which presentations should be used topopulate page 200 according to the entered search term(s). Server 34 maythen provide such a populated page 200 to the requesting user computer20.

As will be appreciated by those possessing an ordinary skill in thepertinent arts, there are a number of ways to aggregate and providecontent using web page 200.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, users may be permittedto directly upload and enter information regarding content, e.g., tofile server 36 (FIG. 1). In certain embodiments of the presentinvention, users may be permitted to link presentations housed elsewherein memory so as to be accessible to a computer 20 (FIG. 1) via network40 (FIG. 1)—essentially registering them with database server 32 (FIG.1). In certain embodiments of the present invention, presentations maybe created using computers 20, 30. And, in certain embodiments of thepresent invention, presentations housed elsewhere in memory so as to beaccessible to a computer 20 (FIG. 1) via network 40 (FIG. 1) may beautomatically linked to—essentially registering them with databaseserver 32 (FIG. 1).

Referring now also to FIG. 4, there is shown a flow diagram of a process400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 400 issuitable for permitting users to directly upload and enter informationregarding content. Process 400 commences with a user providing log oninformation using a computer 20 at block 405, which is provided tocomputers 30 via network 40, in certain embodiments to server 34.Computers 30 log the user on at block 410, and communicates this statusto the user via network 40, in certain embodiments by serving a page 200(FIGS. 2, 3) to the logged on user's computer 20.

At block 415, the logged on user requests to upload content, e.g., byinteracting in a conventional manner with web page 200. This request isprovided to computers 30 via network 40. At block 420, computers 30request information regarding the content to be uploaded. In certainembodiments, the requested information may include a content title,date, series information and description, akin to that to be displayedin a corresponding indicator 240 (FIGS. 2, 3). The request may furtherinclude a file identifier and location of the content indicative file toultimately be uploaded. This request may be communicated to the user'scomputer 20 via network 40.

At block 425, the user provides at least a portion of the requestedinformation, which is communicated to computers 30 via network 40. Someor all of the information provided may be screened or filtered orverified in conventional manners at block 430. In certain embodiments ofthe present invention, information provided at block 425 may be receivedand screened or filtered or verified at block 430 using web server 34.All or a portion of that information may then be stored using databaseserver 32, for later use in populating web pages 200, for example.

At block 430, computers 30 indicate the received information is suitablefor use and confirms the content may be uploaded. This indication isprovided to the user's computer 20 via network 40. At block 435, theuser's computer transmits the content to computers 30 via network 40,e.g., performs a file upload in a conventional manner. The content isreceived by computers 30 at block 440. In certain embodiments of thepresent invention, content transmitted and received at blocks 435, 440may take the form of media file suitable for use as a podcast, forexample. Such a file may be received by server 34 for example, andprovided to server 36 for storage 450 and later retrieval fordownloading and/or streaming pursuant to a user's interaction withwebpage 200 (FIGS. 2, 3), for example. In such a case, server 32 mayassociate the stored content indicative information provided at block425 with the file stored at block 450.

Referring now also to FIG. 5, there is shown a flow diagram of a process500 according to an embodiment of the present invention, Process 500 issuitable for permitting users to link presentations housed elsewhere inmemory so as to be accessible to a computer 20 via network 40.

Process 500 commences with a user providing log on information using acomputer 20 at block 505, which is provided to computers 30 via network40, in certain embodiments to server 34. Computers 30 log the user on atblock 510, and communicate this status to the user via network 40, incertain embodiments by serving a page 200 (FIGS. 2, 3) to the logged onuser's computer 20.

At block 515, the logged on user requests to link or register content,e.g., by interacting in a conventional manner with web page 200. Thisrequest is provided to computers 30 via network 40. At block 520,computers 30 request information regarding the content to be linked. Incertain embodiments, the requested information may include a contenttitle, date, series information and description, akin to that displayedin a corresponding indicator 240 (FIGS. 2, 3). The request may furtherinclude a file identifier and location of the content indicative file tobe linked. This request may be communicated to the user's computer 20via network 40.

At block 525, the user provides at least a portion of the requestedinformation, which is communicated to computers 30 via network 40. Someor all of the information provided may be screened or filtered orverified in conventional manners at block 530. In certain embodiments ofthe present invention, information provided at block 525 may be receivedand screened or filtered or verified at block 530 using web server 34.In certain embodiments of the present invention, the file location data(e.g., an Internet address at which the file is available) may bechecked to see if a valid media file is located thereat. All or aportion of that information may then be stored using database server 32,for later use in populating web pages 200, for example.

At block 530, computers 30 indicate the received information is suitablefor use and confirms the content may be linked. At block 550 thereceived information may be stored using server 32 for later retrievaland use. Server 32 may also associate the linked content indicativeinformation provided at block 525 with the file address stored at block550.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide the ability totrack the number of visitors to the platform of the present invention,and additionally the number of visitors per content via the platform ofthe present invention. Further, the number of pages viewed by eachvisitor may additionally be tracked, such as in a tabular format, andsuch information may be continuously updated for as long as a userremains on a given page, that is, for as long as a user continues towatch a particular show. For example, it may be determined when a userbegins and ends listening to and/or watching a presentation, e.g., apodcast, for example. Where a selected presentation is streamed fromcomputers 30, such an inquiry may be relatively simple, by confirmingthe content streaming is progressing as expected, for example. Wherecontent is housed elsewhere and linked to by computers 30, such a directinquiry may not be readily available though. Tracking may be performed,for example, via entry into one or more tables of database server 32 oftimed data. At each expiration of a timer, such as every 15 seconds, atable entry may be made corresponding to the user, the page the user ison, and, to the extent the user is on the same page as was the user uponthe last expiration of the timer, the user's total time, to the currenttime, spent on that same page. The user may be identified by, forexample, any of a number of known methodologies, such as the informationthe user used to login, the user's IP address, the user's response to anidentifying query, or the like.

Thus, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a capabilityto know that a viewer began viewing a particular show at a certain time,and when a user began viewing a different page, or show, therebyproviding knowledge of how long a particular viewer spent on aparticular page. Such knowledge is not conventionally available, and theprovision of such knowledge by certain embodiments of the presentinvention allows for an increasing scale of payments for advertisingdisplayed on a given page correspondent to how long a viewer or viewersremain, or typically remain, on that particular page or like pages.Thus, a tabular tracking of the present invention allows for theknowledge of how long a viewer spends on a page, what the viewer wasviewing or listening to on the given page, the ads shown while theviewer was viewing or listening, how long the ads were shown, and whatads were shown to the view correspondent to that viewer's identificationand/or login.

Referring now also to FIG. 6, there is shown a flow diagram of a process600 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 600 issuitable for permitting users to create presentations, such as byhosting an audio show that may be recorded to create a podcast, usingcomputers 20, 30.

Process 600 commences with a user providing log on information using acomputer 20 at block 605, which is provided to computers 30 via network40, in certain embodiments to server 34. Computers 30 log the user on atblock 610, and communicate this status to the user via network 40, incertain embodiments by serving a page 200 (FIGS. 2, 3) to the logged onuser's computer 20.

At block 615, the logged on user requests to create content or host ashow, e.g., by interacting in a conventional manner with web page 200.This request is provided to computers 30 via network 40. At block 620,computers 30 request information regarding the content to be created. Incertain embodiments, the requested information may include a contenttitle, date, series information and description, akin to that displayedin a corresponding indicator 240 (FIGS. 2, 3). The request may furtherinclude a phone number at which the user may be reached. This requestmay be communicated to the user's computer 20 via network 40.

At block 625, the user provides at least a portion of the requestedinformation, which is communicated to computers 30 via network 40. Someor all of the information provided may be screened or filtered orverified in conventional manners at block 630. In certain embodiments ofthe present invention, information provided at block 625 may be receivedand screened or filtered or verified at block 630 using web server 34.In certain embodiments of the present invention, the user's phone numbermay be checked to see if it is valid. All or a portion of thatinformation may ten be stored at block 635 using database server 32, forlater use in populating web pages 200, for example.

At block 640, the requesting user indicates he would like to begincreating the presentation, e.g., by interacting in a conventional mannerwith web page 200. This indication is communicated to computers 30 vianetwork 40. At block 645 computers 30 initiate a new presentationcreation session. At block 650, a voice communications session betweencomputers 30 and the user is commenced. In certain embodiments of thepresent invention, a telephone call may be automatically placed bycomputers 30 at block 650 to the phone number indicated at block 625.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a block diagram of a system ofnetworked computers and telephones 700. Like system 10, illustratedsystem 700 includes personal computing devices 22 and a personal digitalassistant/web-enabled cellular phone computer 24 by way of non-limitingexample only. Communication links 26 communicatively couple devices 20with network 40. Links 26 may take the form of wired and/or wirelesscommunications links, including fiber optic, POTS, OSL, cable and/ormultiple access or GSM based wireless telephony or data communicationssystems, for example. Network 40 may include portions of proprietary andservice provider networks, as well as the Internet, for example.Illustrated system 10 includes a database server 32, a content or webserver 34 and a file server 36, all by way of non-limiting example only.Communication links 26 communicatively couple devices 30 with network 40as well.

System 700 additionally includes conventional telephone 705 associatedwith (as indicated by label 720) a particular computing device 22, e.g.,by both corresponding to a given requesting user, for example. In theillustrated embodiment, phone 705 may be communicatively coupled tocomputers 30 independent of network 40 (e.g., via 725). In theillustrated embodiment, phone 705 may be communicatively coupled tocomputers 30 via network 40 (e.g., link 710). In certain embodiments ofthe present invention phone 705 may take the form of a POTS phones. Incertain embodiments of the present invention phone 705 may take the formof a VoIP phone. In certain embodiments of the present invention, phone705 may take the form of a cellular phone. In certain embodiments of thepresent invention, phone 705 is independent of the associated computer22. In certain embodiments of the present invention, phone 705 may becommunicatively coupled to computers 30 independent of any connectionbetween the associated computer 22 and computers 30.

Referring still to FIGS. 6 and 7, a requesting user may be called atblock 650 by computers 30 placing a conventional telephone call to thephone number provided at block 625. Upon the call being answered usingphone 705, a pre-recorded audio message indicating the content will becreated may be played. Thereafter, the requesting user, or his designeefor example, may speak into phone 705, thereby hosting a show, forexample. Responsively thereto, computers 30 may digitize the spoken showand store a media file indicative of it (e.g., using file server 36), asindicated at block 655.

Information provided at block 625 and stored at block 635 may includeidentifications of intended audience members for the presentation, e.g.,an audience for the show to be hosted. This additional information maybe used at block 660 to initiate analogous telephone calls to thosenumbers as well. In this way, a phone audience may hear the show live ata plurality of locations. For non-limiting purposes of explanation, thisis shown in FIG. 7 as phone 730, which is associated with computer 24 asdesignated by label 740.

Such a “dial out” functionality allows for an understanding of where theuser/viewer/listener can be reached, located, and/or may allow for amyriad additional features in the present invention. For example, apinpoint geographic location of broadcast listeners may be placed on amap, such as via website 200 to thereby illustrate where other listenersof the broadcast are specifically located. Such a mapping functionalitymay be realized using a commercially available mapping application, suchas Google Maps, for example.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, shows may be streamedanalogously as described above as they are being recorded, for example.

It should further be understood such a content generation functionalityprovides additional advantages. For example, enhanced telephoneconferences may be readily achieved according to certain embodiments ofthe present invention. Such enhanced conferences may exhibit anautomatic dial out to conference attendees, including the host andaudience. Such enhanced conferences may exhibit automatic recording andarchival for later playback as a podcast, for example. Such enhancedfunctionalities may advantageously be achieved without the host havingaccess to any particular resources other than a general purpose Internetenabled computer and a conventional telephone. Such enhancedfunctionalities may advantageously be achieved without the any audiencemember having access to any particular resources other than aconventional telephone. Accordingly, enhanced telephone conferencing maybe readily achieved.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, certain portions ofaggregated content may have access thereto restricted to authorizedmembers. For example, information provided at blocks 425, 525 and/or 625may include an authorized group identifier or content password. Such anidentifier and/or password may be stored using database server 32. Whena user seeks to playback such protected content, e g., by interactingwith web page 200 as set forth above, the user may need to log in (e.g.,analogously to log in at blocks 405, 410, 505, 510, 605, 610) or providethe corresponding password. Where a group identifier is used, databaseserver 32 may indicate what groups a logged in user is authorized for,so as to selectively permit access to protected content to authorizedusers. Such groups may, by way of non-limiting example only, includebusinesses and other private organizations.

Referring now also to FIG. 8, there is shown a flow diagram of a process800 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 800 issuitable for automatically aggregating and linking to presentationshoused elsewhere in memory so as to be accessible to a computer 20(FIG. 1) via network 40 (FIG. 1)—essentially registering them withdatabase server 32 (FIG. 1).

Syndication of Internet content is becoming more commonplace. ReallySimple Syndication (“RSS”) is a family of Internet feed formats used topublish content that may be frequently updated, such as podcasts (RSS2.0). RSS utilizes a standardized format. An RSS document (sometimesreferred to as a “feed,” “web feed” or “channel”) typically containseither a summary of content from an associated web site or the fulltext.

An RSS may itself be used to aggregate content from multiple web sourcesin one place. RSS content is typically accessed using an RSS readerapplication. Such an application may be a thin, web-page basedapplication or a downloaded application executed on a user's computer(e.g., 20, FIG. 1). RSS feeds may typically be subscribed to by enteringor selecting the feed's link using the reader. The RSS reader typicallychecks the user's subscribed feeds for new content at predeterminedintervals, downloads updates, and provides a user interface to monitorand view the feeds.

Embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with regard toRSS 2.0 feeds for non-limiting purposes of explanation only. It shouldbe recognized that embodiments of the present invention may be suitablefor use with other types of content (e.g., audio/video) feeds.

Referring again to FIG. 8, process 800 commences with a user providinglog on information using a computer 20 at block 805, which is providedto computers 30 via network 40, in certain embodiments to server 34.Computers 30 log the user on at block 810, and communicate this statusto the user via network 40, in certain embodiments by serving a page 200(FIGS. 2, 3) to the logged on user's computer 20.

At block 815, the logged on user requests to link an RSS feed, e.g., byinteracting in a conventional manner with web page 200. This request isprovided to computers 30 via network 40. At block 820, computers 30request information regarding the content to be created. In certainembodiments, the requested information may include a content title,series information and description, akin to that displayed in acorresponding indicator 240 (FIGS. 2, 3). The request may furtherinclude RSS feed identification and/or access information through whichthe feed may be accessed. This request may be communicated to the user'scomputer 20 via network 40.

At block 825, the user provides at least a portion of the requestedinformation, which is communicated to computers 30 via network 40. Someor all of the information provided may be screened or filtered orverified in conventional manners at block 830. In certain embodiments ofthe present invention, information provided at block 825 may be receivedand screened or filtered or verified at block 830 using web server 34.In certain embodiments of the present invention, the feed identifierand/or access information may be checked to see if it is valid. All or aportion of that information may then be stored at block 850 usingdatabase server 32, for later use in populating web pages 200, forexample. At block 850, the feed may further be accessed to acquireinformation regarding and/or either links to or the feed content itselfthen present. All of this information may be automatically aggregatedusing computers 30 in accordance with the methods described herein-abovewith regard to FIGS. 4 and/or 5, where the feed information (e.g., RSSassociated XML data) is used in lieu of user provided information. Thedate and time when content is automatically acquired via such aregistered RSS feed may also be stored at block 850 using computers 30,e.g., database server 32.

At block 855, computers 30 may determine if new content exists for oneor more feeds stored at block 850. This may be accomplished in any of anumber of conventional manner, including periodically checking when thefeed was last updated and/or the content available there-through to datastored at block 850. When new of changed content is found, the datastored at block 855 may be appended or amended to reflect the newcontent.

It should further be understood such a content acquisition providesadditional advantages. For example, each user wishing to identify andview content available via an RSS feed may conventionally need to obtainand operate an RSS reader application. Further, each such RSS readerapplication would need to access each identified RSS feed. This leads tosubstantial bandwidth usage, for example. In contrast, certainembodiments of the present invention permit a user to access RSS contentwithout the need for his own RSS reader. Further, embodiments of thepresent invention only require that system 30 access each RSS feed, asopposed to each system 30 user computer 20 wishing to access the RSSfeeds, leading to substantial savings in network resources. Further,certain embodiments of the present invention allow user to access andcompare content available via RSS feeds they are not even aware of,e.g., by their interaction with webpage 200 as discussed above, wherewebpage 200 includes content added using the methodology of process 800,for example. Accordingly, certain embodiments of the present inventionprovide for enhanced content syndication and aggregation, as compared toeven RSS feeds themselves, for example. And, certain embodiments of thepresent invention provide for automatic aggregation of RSS fed contentin combination with non-RSS fed content in a single applicationindependent of any user RSS reader application.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, web page views and/orweb site visits (e.g., sessions) may be tracked. A page view, as usedherein, generally refers to a request made to a web server for a webpage, as opposed to just a page component, such as a graphic, forexample. A visit, as used herein, generally refers to a sequence of webpage and/or component requests from a particular user's computer, withinsome predetermined period of time. Commercially available server logfile analysis applications may be used to gather such information, forexample.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, more detailed trackinginformation may be desired. For example, it may be desirable to know notonly that a certain number of users requested and accessed certainpresentations, but also how long a user actually watched, and/orlistened, to a presented program, after selection via webpage 200 (FIGS.2, 3), for example. Certain embodiments of the present invention mayprovide the ability to track the number of visitors to the platform ofthe present invention, and additionally the number of visitors percontent via the platform of the present invention, and additionallyinformation regarding how long presentations were watched and/orlistened.

For example, and referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown a view of a webpage 900 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Web page900 generally includes portions 910, 920, 930 and 940. Web page 900 maybe provided to a user's computer 30 responsively to user selection of apresentation shown on a populated web page 200 (FIG. 2). By way ofnon-limiting explanation, should a user viewing web page 200 (FIG. 2)select a presentation 265 for viewing and/or listening, a suitablypopulated web page 900 may be served by computers 20. In such a servedweb page 900, portion 930 may be utilized to playback the selectedpresentation in a conventional manner, e.g., by downloading the contentinto or streaming the content to a media player application or plug-in.Portions 910, 940 may be used to display related information, such asadvertisements for example. In such a case, it may be desirable to beable to reliable identify how long the media was actually, or maytypically be played, in order to appropriately value portions 910, 920as available advertising billboard space. By way of further,non-limiting, example, while a per-click or per-display pricing schedulefor portions 910, 940 may be used, where portion 920 is used toplay-back content a typical user watches and/or listens to for tenminutes, portions 910, 940 may be worth more than where contentplay-back is typically for less than thirty-seconds.

Where content is directly stored using an operator's system (e.g.,computers or computer system 20, FIG. 2), such as by using themethodology of process 400 (FIG. 4) or process 600 (FIG. 6), such atracking may be achieved by tracking requests from and pages viewed byeach visitor, such as in a tabular format. As a system operatormaintains control over the operation of system 30 in such a case, system30 may be monitored to determine how long data is streamed therefrom,for example. Data indicative of this period, such as a presentationidentifier and a value indicative of the time the presentation wasactually streamed for, may be logged by system 30 (e.g., using databaseserver 32, for example). For example, it may be determined when a userbegins and ends listening to and/or watching a presentation, e.g., apodcast, by tracking when a web page was loaded and for example bydetermining when streaming of data to such a loaded web page ceases.Where a selected presentation is streamed from computers 20, such amethodology may be directly implemented by system 20, by confirming thecontent streaming is progressing as expected, for example.

Where content is not uploaded to an operator's system (e.g., computersor computer system 20, FIG. 2) and is instead remotely stored from yetaggregated by system 30, e.g., using the methodology of process 500(FIG. 5) or process 800 (FIG. 8), for example, tracking may not be sostraight forward. As an operator of system 30 does not necessarilyexercise control over the content data storage resource, the operatormay not be able to directly operate the storage resource in a manner todirectly track how long content is streamed therefrom to a particularuser.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, aggregated contentplayback may advantageously be tracked in a substantially same manner,regardless of whether it is streamed from system 30 or otherwiseunrelated computer systems operated by third parties. In certainembodiments of the present invention, tracking information may becontinuously or substantially continuously updated for as long as a usercontinues to watch or listen to a particular show, regardless of whetherthe content data is streamed from an operator's computer system 30 or athird party's computer system.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a block diagram of a process1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Process 1000commences with a user's computer 20 receiving a web page from system 20(FIG. 2) at block 1010. Such a received web page may take the form ofpage 900 (FIG. 9), for example. As is shown in FIG. 9, page 900 includesportion 930, which may be used to play-back user selected content viahis computer 20 and a suitable plug-in or media player, for example. Asexplained herein, data indicative of the content played using portion920 may be supplied by system 30 or a third party's computer system.Regardless, page 900 may include a timer applet. “Applet,” as usedherein, generally refers to a software component that runs in thecontext of another program, in the case of page 900 of FIG. 9, a webbrowser. Such an applet may typically used to perform a specificfunction or task, usually narrow in scope. In the case of FIGS. 9 and10, such a timer applet may be used to indicate when a pre-determinedtemporal period has elapsed. For example, such an applet may be used toindicate each time some temporal period, such as 10, 15 or 30 seconds,elapses. Such a timer applet may be started at block 1020.

At block 1030, when the applet determines the predetermined temporalperiod has elapsed, it signals its continued execution to system 20. Inresponse, system 30 may log receipt of this indication, such as by usingdatabase server 32. In certain embodiments of the present invention, webpage 900 (FIG. 9) may be accompanied with identifying data, such as inform of a cookie. A “cookie,” as used herein, generally refers to amessage provided to a web browser by a web server. The browser storesthe message in a data or text file. In certain embodiments of thepresent invention, the applet may cause the cookie, or associated data,to be transmitted from the user's computer 20 to system 30, where uponreceipt it, or data associated with it, may be logged, such as by usingdatabase server 32.

By way of further non-limiting example, at each expiration of temporalperiod as determined by the timer applet, such as every 15 seconds, atable entry may be made of the user, the page the user is on, and, tothe extent the user is on the same page as was the user upon the lastexpiration of the timer, the user's total time, to the current time,spent on that same page using database server 32. The user may beidentified by, for example, any of a number of known methodologies, suchas the information the user used to login, the user's IP address, theuser's response to an identifying query, or the like.

In certain embodiments of the present invention, the timer applet maycause data indicative of the total time spent on the web page presentingthe presentation that has elapsed. In certain embodiments of the presentinvention, the timer applet may cause data indicative of anothertemporal cycle having passed while the web page presents thepresentation. In the latter, a value indicative of the number of cyclesthat have passed in database 32 may be incremented each time the data isreceived, for example.

Thus, certain embodiments of the present invention provide thecapability to know that a viewer began viewing a particular show at acertain time, and to know when a user began viewing a different page, orshow, thereby providing knowledge of how long a particular viewer spenton a particular page. Such knowledge is not conventionally available,and the provision of such knowledge by certain embodiments of thepresent invention allows for an increasing scale of payments foradvertising displayed on a given page correspondent to how long a vieweror viewers remain, or typically remain, on that particular page or likepages. Thus, the tabular tracking of the present invention allows forthe knowledge of how long viewer spends on a page, what the viewer wasviewing or listening to on the given page, the ads shown while theviewer was viewing or listening, how long the ads were shown, and whatads were shown to the view correspondent to that viewer's identificationand/or login.

Those of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many modificationsand variations of the present invention may be implemented withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A method for tracking digital media presentations delivered from afirst computer system to a user's computer via a network comprising:providing a corresponding web page to the user's computer for eachdigital media presentation to be delivered using the first computersystem; providing a identifier data to the user's computer using thefirst computer system; providing an applet to the user's computer foreach digital media presentation to be delivered using the first computersystem, wherein the applet is operative by the user's computer as atimer; receiving at least a portion of the identifier data from theuser's computer responsively to the timer applet each time apredetermined temporal period elapses using the first computer system;and, storing data indicative of the received at least portion of theidentifier data using the first computer system; wherein each providedwebpage causes corresponding digital media presentation data to bestreamed from a second computer system distinct from the first computersystem directly to the user's computer independent of the first computersystem; and wherein the stored data is indicative of an amount of timethe digital media presentation data is streamed from the second computersystem to the user's computer.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein eachstored data is indicative of a cumulative time the corresponding webpage was displayed by the user's computer.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the storing comprising incrementing a stored value dependentlyupon the receiving.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the received datais indicative of a temporal cycle passing.